Vayishlach: forgiveness on the wedding day
In the Torah portion of Vaishlach, we find how significant the wedding day is. On his wedding day, a groom is forgiven for his sins. While it might seem odd to use the example of Esau, a wicked figure, to illustrate this point, it emphasizes how a person who has strayed far from G-d can experience forgiveness and renewal through marriage.
It is known that a groom on his wedding day is forgiven of all his sins. We learn this from the marriage of Esau the wicked. The forgiveness of sins on the wedding day expresses the new chapter that opens in a person's life when he marries. But why did the Torah teach us this specifically regarding the marriage of Esau the wicked? Surely, the Torah tells of the marriages of more exalted people, both before Esau and after him, and it would seem more fitting that this matter would be alluded to in their marriages and not in Esau's specifically!
What is the real reason for the forgiveness of sins on the wedding day? The wedding day is also a personal atonement. On this day, a person stands to fulfill the great commandment of "be fruitful and multiply," building an eternal house. In this way, his soul reunites with its soulmate and reaches its perfection. Therefore, on such a day, sins are forgiven. The creation of a family and the fulfillment of the commandment to "be fruitful and multiply" are ways to connect with G-d and achieve spiritual perfection and also avoid illicit relations that are forbidden in the 7 Noahide laws.
The commandment to "be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) is often interpreted as a divine mandate for physical procreation. However, it also carries a deeper, spiritual meaning. Beyond physical reproduction, it means spiritual growth and the propagation of good deeds. This includes acts of kindness, charity, and spreading knowledge and wisdom of the seven divine commandments. One can "be fruitful" by raising spiritual children, such as disciples or followers.
Therefore, the Torah mentioned the forgiveness of sins on the wedding day, specifically in the marriage of Esau. To teach us that even the greatest sinner, when the transformative event of awakening and elevation like the wedding day comes, his sins are forgiven. The institution of marriage (as they are done according to 7 Noahide laws) holds immense spiritual significance. It offers a chance for individuals to start anew, to connect with their divine essence, and to experience forgiveness and real growth.